Art of Woodturning-Documentary film-Mani Wangchuk

The sky was clear. Yellow and warm rays of the sun brightened the beautiful valleys of Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. Ap Mani Wangchuk in his black gho has already started his daily job in the small shed made of corrugated iron sheets. So many wood galls were seen lying on one corner in different sizes and shapes and many finished products such as bowls and cups were seen beautifully arranged on another side. Wangchuk was with the iron tool making Dapa, the wooden bowl. He is one of the best woodturners in Bhutan. Out of 13 unique Arts and Crafts seen in Bhutan, wood turning (shazo) is one of the crafts still practiced in Bhutan. However, the import of modern plastic plates has impacted hugely on his business.
Before the import of plastic plates and cups, the people of Bhutan had been using wooden bowls and cups and other useful wooden utensils. Wood products were used in the monasteries and the grand celebrations. Bhutanese people had been using wooden products for offering food and alcohol (ara) to higher officials. It served as a great tool to preserve Bhutanese culture. However, with the change in time, many businesspeople from Bhutan started importing plastic plates and cups. It is because plastic or modern utensils were seen as inexpensive and comfortable. More people started opting for it and the trend of woodturning was seen as vanishing. Nevertheless, there is Mani Wangchuk and his family who are still hanging on with the practice of woodturning at Zilukha, which is in Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan.